Okay Geek Farm
Internet Addiction rehab is Real and Expensive
Ricardo Trejo
Can't step away from your computer for a second without feeling disconnected? You aren't the only one. A rehab center specializing in a program to get you back on track with your offline "A game" is opening up in Fall City, Washington. For those monitoring the activity on the net this only seems natural as certain people are unable to un-glue their eyes off of youtube or their friends latest twitter updates.
However, there is quite a bit of opposition towards this whole operation. Opposition that calls internet addiction a bunch of bull - a made up addiction. When compared to cocaine and heroin addicts, you're not looking at someone who is addicted to myspace or mmorpg's. The use of the internet is not harmful, and neither is playing a game, but using drugs to alter your mind and thoughts uncontrollably and harm your natural balance of chemicals. The internet doesn't do that at all. So it's all within your control, every second of it. In other words, it wouldn't be an addiction, but a condition. There seems to be a difference. You don't see fat rehab centers. And why? Because the food, although harmful, is always within the control of the person eating. You can see the effects gradually. Internet use would be the same way, however not as easily.
I don't see what the big deal is really. Why does it HAVE to be considered something addictive? Does it really matter? It truly isn't. If I go online and don't get addicted then the problem isn't the internet, but the person - but then again you could say the same with alcoholics vs people who don't drink much. Eh, I'll leave this debate to the "experts."
[Via ArsTechnica]
